Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States, after withholding military aid for more than a year, has granted a reprieve to Egypt.

Congress has passed a spending bill that revises U.S. civilian and military assistance to Egypt. Under the omnibus spending package for fiscal 2015, the House and Senate allowed the administration of President Barack Obama to waive human rights certification for Egypt on grounds of U.S. national security.

“These new provisions will allow the administration to sidestep the human rights conditions that Congress has attached to foreign assistance,” Neil Hicks, director of Human Rights First, said.

The legislation restored a waiver for human rights requirements for Egypt, allocated $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid. Under the bill, Secretary of State John Kerry could relay some $725 million in military assistance held up in fiscal 2014 by citing U.S. national security interests as well as the need for Egyptian border security, counter-insurgency, non-proliferation and development of the Sinai Peninsula.

Congressional sources said the restoration of the waiver reflected lobbying by Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They said the legislation to facilitate U.S. military aid to Egypt was pressed by Rep. Kay Granger, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee.

In June 2014, Kerry authorized the release of $575 million in aid for Egypt for border security and CI. The secretary also ordered the lifting of a suspension of delivery of 10 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for the Egyptian Air Force.

“Congress should not send the message to the Egyptian government that human rights concerns are not a priority in the bilateral relationship,” Hicks said on Dec. 15.

  Israel, Jordan, U.S. grants reprieve on aid to Egypt after lobbying from Saudis, UAE, WorldTribune.com